Apparatus for holding and washing drinking vessels.



W. LAMB. I APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND WAsHING DRINKING VESSELS.APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1910.

981,433, Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

F /EJ Attorney:

W. LAMB. APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND WASHING DRINKING VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 15, 1910.

, Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WALTER LAMB, OF HANOVER, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND WASHING DRINKING VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

Application filed November 15, 1910. Serial No. 592,596.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VALTER LAMB, citizen of the United States, residingat Hanover, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Holdingand Washing Drinkin Vesselsfand I do hereby declare the fol owing to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention consists of the novel features hereinafter describedreference being embodiment of my invention which I have selected forpurposes of illustration. Fig. 2

is a horizontal sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4; aredetail views of slightly modified forms of the flushing device shown inFigs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a slightlymodified embodiment of the invention. Fig. 6 is a detail view of amodified form of device for holding the drinking vessel in properrelation with the flushing device.

The object of my invention is to provide a holder and washing device fora drinking vessel, so constructed and arranged as to provide for thethorough cleansing of a tumbler or other form of drinking vessel, andalso for holdin it when not in use substantially submerge in thecleansing liquid.

The device is adapted for use in the offices of dentists and physicians,but is particularly desirable for use wherever a number of persons use acommon drinking vessel, as in stores, offices, manufacturingestablishments, schools, and at public drinking fountains.

In the embodiment of the invention which I have selected for thepurposes of illustration, 1 represents a receptacle, in which thedrinking vessel is designed to be held submerged 1n the flushing liquid,which will under ordinary circumstances? be water. In the device hereshown the receptacle comprises ametal bottom 2,

.ployed to make a tight joint.

the body portion of the receptacle consistsof a cylindricalwall 1preferably of glass having an inwardly extending flange 1 at the bottom,which is held between the flange 3, and ring 5, suitable acking 6, 6 ofrubber, cement or other suitab le material being em- The use of atransparent wall as 1 for the receptacle allows an inspection of thedevice at all times so that it can .be kept in a perfectly cleancondition, and the presence of any accumulation of sediment from thewater or other foreign matter, can be easily seen and remedied. Thebottom 2 is preferably provided with a bracket--2 of any desired shapeor form by which the device may be secured to a wall, or othersupporting surface.

The receptacle is provided with a discharge pipe 7, which extends upwardto near the top of the receptacle, so that the receptacle shall alwaysremain full of liquid, the level of which will be at the top of saiddischarge pipe. I prefer to make the pipe 7 removable to facilitatecleaning the bottom of the receptacle and to this end it is threaded atits lower end and screwed into a threaded discharge opening in thebottom 2, and a waste pipe 8 is screwed or otherwise connected to saidbottom 2, as shown, to

form a continuation of the discharge pipe 7 and carry the Waste liquidto a suitable place where it can be discharged, as into a stationarywash or other basin, etc. I also provide means for flushing thereceptacle 1 for the purpose of cleansing the drlnking vessel immersedin the liquid contalned therein, and said flushing device is arranged soas to wash particularly that portion of the drinking vessel which comesin contact with the lips. I also provide means for holding the tumbler,goblet or other drinking vessel, in the receptacle in a predeterminedposition with respect to the flushing device.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I have shownthe flushing device, as consisting of an annular pipe or hollow ring 10,provided on its upper surface with a narrow annular discharge slit 11,said hollow ring being supplied with water by means of pipe connections12, 12, from a supply pipe 13 which is connected with the city watermain, or any other source of liquid supply. In these figures I have alsoshown the central discharge pipe 7 provided with means for supportingthe drinking vessel in such fixed relation with the flushing device thatthe rim of the drinking vessel will be held exactly above or within theannular discharge slit 11, so that the liquid will be expelled withforce against both the outer and inner surfaces of the lip engagingportions of the drinking vessel. Inthis instance I have shown thedrinking vessel in the form. of a goblet 15, having a stem l5-terminating in a ball or enlargement 15 having a rounded bottom surfaceso that the device cannot conveniently be used except in connection withthis device, and thus deterring persons from abstracting thedrinkinvessel, and the stem and enlargement orm a convenient handle by means ofwhich the vessel may be used and replaced without wetting the hands. Thecentral discharge tube 7 is provided with three, four or more guidingand supporting brackets 14, as shown in Fig. 1 secured to the tube inany desired manner and provided with curved portions. 14 extendingslightly above the top or mouth of the discharge tube, and with straightportions 14: adapted to engage the inner surface of the vessel 15adjacent to the rim or lip engaging portion, and hold it in properrelation to the discharge slit of the flushing device. The portions letengage the bottom of the drinking vessel and support it justsufliciently above the open end of the tube 7 to permit the liquid todischarge freely thereghrlough during the flushing of the recepac e.

The flushing may take place automatically or by hand as preferred. InFigs. 1 and 2 I have shown devices for flushing the receptacleautomatically when the drinking vessel is removed and replaced. Thisconsists of a valve 20, in the pipe 13, rovided with a valve operatingarm 21 W ich extends to a position adjacent to the stem of the glass orvessel 15, so that as the glass is removed the valve will be operatedand the water changed and when the glass is replaced after using, itwill be immersed in fresh water, and as it is lowered into its placeover the discharge pipe 7, the lever 21 will be operated to open thevalve and the rim of the glass descend into the rush of water comingfrom the slit 11 thus thoroughly cleansing the glass. I may also prov1dea hand operated cook 22 in the pipe 13, as shown in Fig. 1 in additionto the automatlc cook or valve 20, and I may dispense with the automaticvalve altogether and operate the device by hand by 0 ening cock 22 afterthe glass 15 has been rep aced, flushing thereceptacle thoroughly andthen turning off the cook 22.

In some instances the annular flushing device 10' may be provided withtwo concentric rows of minute apertures as indicated at 11,

11 Fig. 4, in which figure 10 represents in charge slit 11 and providedwith notches 14 to engage the rim of the glass and secure it in positionrelatively with the slit 11 I o i 0 I I section the annular fl'ushmgdevice, the sald In Fig. 5 I have shown ,a slightly modi- 1 fiedembodiment of my invention, in which .the drinking vessel is supportedby means outside of the liquid receptacle, and the flushing device islocatedaabove the drinking 1 vessel, and discharges, downwardly outsideof the drinking vessel. In this form of the apparatus the receptacle isprovided with a solid bottom 2 from which the discharge pipe 7% extendsupwardly to the desired height within the receptacle, the receptaclehaving the cylindrical glass wall portion clamped at the lower end tothe bottom 2 as previously described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.The glass or drinking vessel here indicated by 15 is supported by abracket 30, which has a bifurcated portion 31 engaging the stem 15' justbelow the. en-. largement 15 and is provided with means, as a plate 32,for securing-it to a wall or other supporting surface, in properrelation with the receptacle. 35 represents the annular flushing deviceconnected to and supported by the supply pipe 13*, which is providedwith a suitable controlling valve indicated at 22*. The annular flushingdevice is preferably provided with a plurality, of nozzles 36, on itslower side, directed downward and toward the position occupied by theglass 15. When the valve 22 is openedthe water will be directed downwardthrough the water in the receptacle, and ,as the discharged water mustfiow over the top of pipe 7, currents of the water are createdwhich-flow down over the outside of the rim of the glass and up on theinside thereof thereby cleansing the glass thoroughly, and particularlythe rim portion, thereof.

It is obvious that variations of the me- I .point where a supply ofwater can-be obtained, for examp e adjacent to a water cooler or publicdrinking fountain or at any other point where a drinking vessel is to beused by a number of persons; If desired .vided' with a ,suitable cqckorvalve.

the water for drinking purposes can be obtainedfrom the same pipe whichfurnlshes the water. for flushing the receptacle, for ample. by use ofthe well known goose. neck delivery pipe'arranged at a convenient pointadjacent to said receptacle and connectedwith the water supply p1pe.andpro- It is to be noted that the drinking vessel is maintained at alltimes immersed inithe liquid in the receptacle, thus protecting it fromdust and any foreign matter or impurities in the atmosphere and thedrinking vessel can be additionally washed in fresh water either beforeor after use, or both,- and either automatically or manually accordingto the desire of th'eperson using the vessel, It' is also to be notedthat at every flushing of the receptacle, the

drinking vessel .is washed both externallyand internally, -the flushwater flowing around the rim'or lip engaging portions of the vessel andthoroughly cleansing the same.' 1

The drinking vessel may be supported from the central discharge tube asshown in I Fig. 1,0r from the'fiushing device as in Fig.

3, or from an exterior support as in Fig. 5,

or in any other desired manner, and it is obvious that the means forholding the drinking vessel in predetermined relation with the flushingdevice may be secured to any desired part of the apparatus. Thus in Fig.6 I have shown another means for holding the vessel in the desiredposition which is secured to the flushing device and may or may notsupport the weight of the vessel, as preferred. This device consists ofdiverging arms 14 ,14 secured at intervals to the flushing ring herelettered 10 and preferably connected at their upper ends'by concentricrings 38 and 39.. placing the said arms close enough together they maybe used to -su port the, vessel as well as uide the rim 0 the vessel .toand hold it in the desired position. The said arms may also be used toguide and hold. the rim of the vessel where the weight of the glass isotherwise supported, as by pro'ecting devices similar to the upper part0 the arms 14 in Fig. 1, secured to the central discharge tube,"or wherean external supfoim of controlling poi-ting a drinking vessel, with-insaid'recep tacle, in position to surround said discharge pipe, withoutclosing said discharge aperture wherebysaid vessel is maintainedsubstantially immersedin the liquid insaid receptacle, when inengagement with .said supportlng means.

2. Apparatusfor holding and washinga drinking vessel, comprising amongits members,-a liquid receptacle, pnovided with a discharge pipeextending upwardly therein and provided with a discharge aperture .atits upper end, means for supporting a drinking vessel, within saidreceptacle in position to surround said discharge pipe without closingsaid ischarge aperture, and a flushing device or changingthe entirecontents of said receptacle, provided with inlet apertures constructedto direct the incoming liquid on the exterior of the drinking vessel,

whereby the liquid will pass up on the in-- side of the said vessel tothe discharge aperture, and cleanse both the inner and outer surfaces.of said vessel.-

3. In an apparatus for holding and washing a drinking'vessel, thecombination with a. receptacle, of a discharge pipe extending upwardlyfrom the bottom thereof and having a discharge aperture adjacent to itsupper end, an, annular flushing device discharging Within thereceptacle, and constructed to direct liquid on the exterior of thedrinking vessel, and meansfor supporting a drinking vessel inpredetermined relation to said flushing device, and in a position tosurround said discharge pipe without closing the said discharge aperturethereof.

4. "In an apparatus for holding and washing a drinking vessel, thecombination with a liquid receptacle, of a discharge pipedisposedvertically therein and having a discharge aperture adjacent to its upperend, a flushing device surrounding the said discharge pipe and locatedbelow the discharge aperture and means for supporting the drinkingvessel infixed relation with the flushing device, and in a positionsurrounding said discharge pipe.

5. In an apparatus for holding and washing a drinking vessel, thecombination with a liquid receptacle, ofa discharge pipe disposedvertically therein and having a discharge aperture adjacent. to itsupper end, anannular.flushing device located adjacent to the bottom ofthe receptacle and provided with an annularly disposed dischargefor'directing liquid against the inner and outer faces of the drinkinvessel, and means for supporting theadrmking vessel with its rim inpredetermined relation with said disposed discharge.-

6. In an apparatus for holding and washannularly ing. a drinking vessel,the combination with a liquid receptacle, of a discharge pipe disposedvertically therein and having a discharge aperture adjacent to its upperend, a flushing device located adjacent to the bottom of the receptacleand provided With an annular discharge slit, and supporting means 7 forengaging the drinking vesseland holding its rim in a median positionWith respect to the edges of said-slit, whereby theinflowing liquid Willbe directed against the inner and outer surface of the rim of saiddrinking vessel.

In an apparatus for holding and Washing a drinking vessel, thecombination with a liquid receptacle, of a discharge pipe disposedvertically therein and having a discharge aperture' adjacent to itsupper end, an annular flushing device surrounding said discharge pipe,located below the level of said discharge aperture and provided With j aliquidreceptacle, of a discharge pipe disposed vertically thereinand'having a discharge aperture adjacent to its upper end, a

said receptacle located at a distance from said discharge pipe, meansfor supporting a v drinking vessel in a. posltion surrounding saiddischarge pipe, without closing the discharge aperture, and an automaticcontrolling device for the flushing device having an actuating part solocated as to be operatively engaged by the drinking vessel, When thevessel is applied to or removed from its supporting means.

9. In an apparatus for supporting and Washing a drinking vessel, thecombination With a receptacle, comprising a metallic bottom, atransparent Wall portion detachably' secured to said bottom, a dischargepipe within said receptacle, detachably secured to said bottomand'having a discharge aperture at its upper end, su ports for adrinking vessel secured to sai discharge pipe, an annular flushing ringsurrounding said discharge pipe located adjacent to the bottom of saidreceptacle, and provided With an annular discharge concentric With therim of the said receptacle, a supply pipe connected to said flushingdevice, and a controlling valve for said supply pipe.

WALTER LAMB. WVitnesses:

C. F. EHREHART, C. E. EHREHART.

